My Favorite My Country Listen to the speakers. Write the questions that they answer.

Transcription

1 Track 1 My Favorite a. Speaker #1: My favorite teacher is Mr. Leonard. He is my science teacher. I think he explains things well, and he makes every science lesson fun. b. Speaker #2: My favorite video game is Pirate Treasure. It is a game that you play online. You get to make your character and go on adventures. It s a lot of fun. c. Speaker #3: My favorite sport to play is tennis. Tennis is better than other sport because you can play it at any time of year. You also only need one other person to play this sport. It s easy to find a friend to play with. Track 3 Response #1: My favorite TV show is the sitcom (situation comedy) Townhouse because it is very funny. I think the characters are very original, and the dialog is very creative. It always makes me laugh. Response #2: My favorite hobby is collecting coins. I like to collect coins and bills from different countries around the world. I always feel good when I get a new type of currency from another country. Response #3: My favorite pets are dogs because dogs are very faithful and protective of their owners. Dogs are affectionate, and they actually like getting their owner s attention. Other pets are not as much fun as dogs. Track 4 My Country a. Speaker #1: A famous food from my country is the candy called Chewy Bears. You may have tasted this candy. They are small jelly bears that taste like fruit. Kids all around the world love them. b. Speaker #2: A really big company in my country is Star Technology. That company makes all kinds of things, from cars to televisions. In fact, I saw some products from this company when I visited my uncle in Australia. c. Speaker #3: In my country, there are no real traditional clothes for men and women. Women and men generally wear casual clothes such as pants and shirts. For work or more formal situations, women and men both wear suits. Track 6 Response #1: The best and the most popular restaurants are those that serve our more traditional food types. Seafood is very popular, as are different types of curry dishes. There is a big restaurant chain called Sea Harvest, which is very popular in my country. Response #2: The main universities in my country are Central University, National University, and City University. They are located in the capital city, quite close to the center of the city. Of the three universities, National University is the largest. Response #3: Yes, there are theme parks in my country. The most popular is Disney World, similar to Disney World in the US. It is very popular in my country. Sea World is also very popular, especially during the summer. 1 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:25

2 Track 7 Studying English a. Speaker #1: A good thing to do in class is participate actively. If you do this, you will most likely learn more from the lesson. So even if you don t like some activity or you think an exercise is boring, you should still try your best. b. Speaker #2: It is important to do your homework because it is additional practice and reinforcement of what you are studying in class. If you don t do your homework, then you are more likely to forget what you learned in class that day. Your homework can also help prepare you for the next lesson. c. Speaker #3: I learned to read English by using a computer game when I was five years old. My parents bought a CD-ROM for me and showed me how to use it. It was difficult at first, but with practice, it got much easier. Track 9 Response #1: There are a lot of ways you can learn to read at a fast pace. The one that I know is to read a lot. You should read every day, and as you read, pay attention to the details in the book. Response #2: Watching TV and listening to songs in English can help me improve my comprehension skills and help me learn new vocabulary. For example, when I watch TV in English, I often hear interesting words that I don t learn in books, as well as common expressions. Response #3: The best way to learn new vocabulary is to read a lot because as you read you can recognize the new vocabulary words and observe how they are used in context. Another good way is to learn five words every day and try to use them when you talk to people. Track 10 Movies a. Speaker #1: My favorite actor is Dustin Hoffman. I like him because he is able to play many different types of people. A lot of famous actors are simply themselves in movies, but Dustin Hoffman can seem like a different person each time. b. Speaker #2: No, I don t like watching horror movies. I usually have nightmares after I watch them. I think some people enjoy being scared because they get a thrill from the excitement, but not me. c. Speaker #3: An action movie is usually a fast, exciting movie where lots of things are happening. Usually, there is a hero who fights bad people. Famous action movies from my country include The Myth and Fearless. Track 12 Response #1: I don t usually pay attention to movie ratings when I am choosing a movie to watch. Sometimes, I ask my friends what they thought of a particular movie, but if I am curious about one, I will just watch it. I m old enough to watch anything. Response #2: In my country, our movie industry has not developed very much. We have some small studios located close to our capital city. Most of our movies are made with actors from our popular soaps. Response #3: No, I don t think young children should be allowed to watch horror movies. They can be really scared after watching these movies, and some younger children might not understand that things in the movies are not real. 2 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:28

3 Track 13 Restaurants a. Speaker #1: The last restaurant I went to was Burger World. I went there for lunch with my friends. I like that restaurant because it is not expensive and the food is good. b. Speaker #2: When I eat out, I usually order iced tea to drink. I don t like drinking colas. They are too sweet, and I don t like the bubbles. Also, I think iced tea is better with a meal than water. c. Speaker #3: Seafood is good for your health because it has good oil in it. I think it also has fewer chemicals in it than chicken or beef. Those kinds of meats can have lots of unnatural things in them. Track 15 Response #1: I like to order dessert. I really like chocolate and fruit. Depending on my mood and if I am still hungry or not, I sometimes order a piece of fruit torte with chocolate. Response #2: My favorite restaurant is the Golden Dragon, which is located on the corner of Main and 5 th street. It serves Chinese food that is out of this world. The food is also very cheap, so we can go there every two or three weeks. Response #3: When I go out, I like to try different restaurants, especially when I travel abroad because it gives me a chance to sample foods from different countries. If I find a really special restaurant, I will go more than once, or take friends there. Track 16 Music a. Speaker #1: My favorite radio station is a sports station, not a music station. Sometimes this station plays music when there is not a game on, but most of the time they are talking about sports or broadcasting a game. I guess I m not a big music fan. b. Speaker #2: Yes, I like to sing with friends. One of the ways that young people spend time in my country is to go out and sing together. We do that a lot more than going places to dance. Some of my friends sing and dance, but I just like singing. c. Speaker #3: The last time I bought a CD was probably two years ago. I quit buying CDs, and now I usually just download songs that I like. I think it s better to just buy the songs you like instead of buying a whole CD that might have some songs you don t like. Track 18 Response #1: I like to sing, but I am not sure if I am a good singer. I like to sing at home when I do something that does not require concentration, like doing the laundry or taking a shower. However, whenever I sing in front of family members, they tell me to be quiet. Response #2: I went to a concert last month, and I saw my favorite singer, Shakira. She was on a tour around the major cities of my country, and she visited my city as well. She sings Latin pop music. I liked the concert a lot because we could listen and dance. Response #3: Music can help us learn English because it s one way to practice listening. For example, you can listen to songs in English and try to write down the lyrics. Also, when something is musical, it is much easier to remember the words. 3 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:28

4 Music is a good way to memorize English words and phrases. by what the writer said in the book, which was another reason that it was famous. Track 19 Name Them a. Speaker #1: The most famous artists that I know are van Gogh, Picasso, and da Vinci. All three of those artists are from Europe. I think their works of art can be found in museums around the world. b. Speaker #2: Some popular magazines around the world are Time, National Geographic, and Newsweek. I ve read some articles from all of those magazines. In fact, several of my English teachers used those magazines in their classes. c. Speaker #3: A couple of really famous mountains are Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro, and Mount Fuji. Mount Everest is the tallest of those three mountains. I like hiking in the mountains, but I ve never visited any of those mountains. Track 21 Response #1: Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, and Julia Roberts are three famous actresses. Angelina Jolie is very famous because she is in a relationship with Brad Pitt. She also adopted a child from Africa, which is another reason that she is famous now. Response #2: Dirty Old Town, The Lonesome Boatman, and A Song for Ireland are all popular songs in my country. I really like the song Dirty Old Town because it tells the story of a town in my country, and it is sung in our traditional style. It is still very popular with a lot of people. Response #3: John Grisham, J. K. Rowling, and Dan Brown are three famous writers. Dan Brown is famous for The da Vinci Code. Both the movie and book were very famous. Many people were annoyed Track 22 The Environment a. Speaker #1: One way to produce electricity is with the wind. These days, some companies make big windmills. When the wind makes the windmills turn, it produces electricity. I ve seen pictures of big fields with lots of these windmills in them. b. Speaker #2: A really bad effect of water pollution is that it kills fish. Of course, we shouldn t kill animals. That s bad. But when lots of fish die, that means there is less food for other animals that eat the fish. So, water pollution that kills fish can be bad for other animals as well. c. Speaker #3: Global warming is a process where the Earth becomes hotter over time. These days, lots of people say that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing global warming. Scientists are studying this, while other scientists are searching for ways to cut the amount of carbon dioxide humans produce. Track 24 Response #1: Cutting down trees causes major changes in the amount of oxygen that people and animals have available to breathe. Because trees consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, if we keep cutting down trees, we will increase carbon dioxide levels but lower oxygen levels. Response #2: There are a lot of things we can do at home to save water. First, we can turn the water off when we are not using it, like when we brush our teeth. Second, we can reduce the amount of time we spend in the shower or in the bath. Response #3: Yes, there is a lot of traffic in my 4 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:29

5 city. Traffic is a huge problem because traffic jams sometimes block the streets for hours. Pollution is a major concern. I think people should use their cars less frequently. They could also carpool to reduce the number of cars on the roads. Response #3: Yes, I read newspapers and magazines all the time. I like to stay informed about the latest events at home and abroad. Also, I am a bit of a bookworm. I like reading biographies. I like books about famous people and historical events. Track 25 Everyday Activities a. Speaker #1: I usually get up around six o clock. It takes me about 45 minutes to get ready for school, so that s why I get up so early. Most mornings, I don't have time to eat breakfast. b. Speaker #2: After school, I usually play a few computer games at home before I start my homework. I have to think a lot at school, so I need some time to relax after I get home. My mom only lets me play for about 30 minutes. Then, she tells me to start my homework. c. Speaker #3: My typical weekend is not very interesting. I sleep late on Saturday and Sunday because I have to get up early all week. If I don t go out and meet my friends, I like to stay home and watch TV or DVDs. My family rents DVDs just about every weekend. Track 27 Response #1: I usually go home at about 4:00 p.m. because I have to wait for a school bus to take me home. Right after I get home, I have a snack because I am usually starving by then. Then, I take a shower. Later, I watch television and do my homework. Response #2: We usually talk about all sorts of things. Usually we discuss the events of our day, what happened, whom we met, and so on. We also try to plan activities to do during the weekend. Track 28 Experiences a. Speaker #1: A time I was really scared was when the electricty went out in my apartment building. At that time, I was in the elevator! I thought I would be stuck there for hours, so I got scared. Luckily, the power came back on after a few minutes. b. Speaker #2: The best place I ever visited was Paris. I had seen pictures of Paris, and I read a lot about it. Then, I got to go there with my cousin. We had a great time! It was just like I imagined. c. Speaker #3: People usually get nervous before they have to do something in front of a lot of people. For example, if a person has to sing or dance on stage in front of people, he or she will probably be nervous before that. Or if a person has to give a presentation in class, he or she will be nervous then, too. Track 30 Response #1: I felt really happy during my middle school graduation because I got the highest score in my class. It happened in May of last year. After my exams were over, my parents took my sister and me out for a nice meal to celebrate. It felt great because the celebration was for me. Response #2: I was really happy on my 11 th birthday because one of my dreams came true. I had been asking my parents to get me a puppy for a long, long time, but they kept saying no because they didn t think I was responsible enough to take care of a pet. When I finally got a puppy for my birthday, I felt 5 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:29

6 great because I knew my parents felt I was responsible enough to take care of it. Response #3: When I was 13 years old and in middle school, I failed a test because I was at a party the night before instead of studying hard. Even while I was taking the test, I knew I would fail because I didn t know any of the answers! Track 31 Family a. Speaker #1: My grandmother lives in the same city as my parents, but she has her own apartment. My grandfather died a long time ago. Sometimes my parents worry about my grandmother because she lives alone. But my grandmother likes having her own apartment. b. Speaker #2: My father has a job, and my mother is a housewife. My father works in a company that makes parts for computers. He is a manager there. Even though my mother stays at home, I think she has a full-time job, too. She has to take care of the house and do lots of stuff that my father can t do because he is at his office all day. c. Speaker #3: The typical family in my country has one or two children. Most families I know have just one child, but it is not unusual to see a family with two children. Very few people have three or more children. Track 33 Response #1: I know some facts about my great-grandparents because I was raised by my grandmother, who liked to tell me stories of when she was young. I know that they had a large family and owned a Chinese restaurant in the center of Hong Kong. Response #2: The most important thing that my parents have taught me is how to be responsible. For example, when I was little and my parents bought me a puppy, my father taught me how to take care of it. I think I learned a lot about responsibility then. Response #3: We celebrate anniversaries with our family. For example, last month, my grandparents had their 50 th wedding anniversary, and we prepared a huge celebration for them. We booked a function room in a good restaurant and had all of our family members come for a nice meal. Track 34 Feelings a. Speaker #1: I feel happy when I spend time with my friends. We usually do fun things together, so that makes me happy. One of our favorite things to do is to go bowling. We laugh a lot and have fun when we go bowling. b. Speaker #2: I get annoyed when people on the bus start talking really loudly on their cell phones. I don t want to hear their conversations but they don t care. I would really like to say something to those people, but I never do. c. Speaker #3: I never bite my nails, but my sister does. She bites her nails when she is worried about something. She seems to worry about a lot of things. Whenever I see her doing that, I tell her to stop it. Track 36 Response #1: There are many things that bore me because I am very impatient, and I can t sit still when I am bored. For example, I was once at a presentation on how to be successful, and the presenter was quite boring. I wanted to leave after about five minutes. 6 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:30

7 Response #2: When I have to make a difficult but important decision, I usually think carefully about it because I do not want to make a mistake and then regret it later. For example, after I graduate from high school, I need to decide what major to choose for college. This is something I will need to make a careful decision about. Response #3: I feel sad when something unfortunate happens to my family or my friends because I love them so much. For example, I felt really sad when my brother failed his math exam. He studied really hard for the exam, but it was very difficult. Track 37 Air Travel a. Speaker #1: I have never been on a plane before. Many of my friends have flown on planes, so I have heard about the experience. Maybe someday in the near future I will get to fly somewhere. b. Speaker #2: I think the best way to buy plane tickets is online. There are some good websites that offer cheap tickets to people. These days most people have e-tickets, so you don t even need to get a real ticket at all. c. Speaker #3: During a flight, people can read magazines or watch movies. They can also listen to music. Some planes have small screens on the back of every seat. On those flights, people can even play video games. Track 39 Response #1: There are many features that are designed to keep passengers safe on a plane. Flight attendants usually explain to passengers all the safety information before a flight, such as the way to put on oxygen masks and life jackets. Response #2: There are many situations that can make a flight potentially annoying. For example, if your neighbor falls asleep and starts snoring, it can be very annoying. Also, when there is a crying baby near you, it can be difficult to relax. Response #3: There are three sections on each plane: first class, business class, and economy class. First class is the most expensive. Business class is nearly as good as first class, though it is a little cheaper. Economy class is usually cheapest, but the seats are rather uncomfortable. Track 40 Food a. Speaker #1: My favorite food is chicken soup with rice. I know that sounds kind of plain, but I love it. I like to eat this kind of soup on cold days when it is raining or snowing. It warms me up inside. b. Speaker #2: The strangest food that I have tried is raw beef. I ate this in a restaurant near my house. My father told me that it was a traditional food from some country, but I can t remember which one. I didn t really like it, so I haven t eaten it again since then. c. Speaker #3: The typical diet in my country includes lots of meat and potatoes in it. A long time ago, people would eat meat and potatoes at almost every meal. These days, there is more variety. But my family still eats meat and potatoes a lot, just not every day. Track 42 Response #1: My favorite dessert is fruit torte because I love fruit. A fruit torte is a very rich cake with various kinds of fruit on top. My mom used to bake it for me when I was younger because I really like it. Now I can make it myself. 7 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:30

8 Response #2: No, I do not think that it s a good idea for parents to take their children to fast-food restaurants because we know that fast food is not good for our health. Also, if parents take their children there as a treat, they will be encouraging them to eat this type of food. Response #3: As a child, I hated to eat vegetables, especially broccoli. My parents would keep saying, Eat your vegetables. They are good for you. But I just didn t understand how anyone could like vegetables. Now that I am older, I love eating vegetables. eating fruit is good for your body and will improve your health. Response #2: I would create a mix between a plum and a tomato because I like the taste of both, and if I put those two tastes together, I think that would create an amazing new fruit. I would name it the plumato! Response #3: There are many reasons why vegetarians may choose not to eat meat. First, there are religious reasons. Second, some people choose not to eat meat because they think that it is wrong to eat living creatures. Also, some people may not be able to eat meat because of health reasons. Fruits and Vegetables Track 43 a. Speaker #1: My favorite vegetables are carrots. They are a little bit sweet. I don t like cooked carrots as much as raw carrots. I like to eat crunchy carrot sticks with sandwiches. b. Speaker #2: Yes, I have tried to grow vegetables. I did that as part of a science project for school. The teacher gave all of the students dried beans. We took the beans home and planted them. Then we watched to see if they would grow. Mine grew well until I forgot to water them for a few days. Then they died. c. Speaker #3: The difference between fruits and vegetables probably has something to do with the part of the plant that we eat. Fruits usually have some kind of seeds in them, so they re related to the way plants reproduce. Vegetables can be leaves or roots or other parts of the plants. Track 45 Response #1: An apple a day keeps the doctor away means that if you eat at least an apple a day, you will never need a doctor because this type of food keeps you healthy. I agree with the saying that Track 46 Giving Directions a. Speaker #1: The easiest way to get to my house from school is to take bus number 7. You can catch the bus at the corner of 54 th Street and Parker Road. Get off the bus at the Palm Drive stop. My house is on the corner of Palm Drive and Parker Road. b. Speaker #2: The nearest post office is next to the supermarket on Main Street. Just walk down the street from here and turn right at the traffic light. After you pass the supermarket, you will see the post office. You can t miss it. c. Speaker #3: There is a good book store downtown. It s really big. If you take the subway, you can get off at the City Hall station. Then take exit eight out of the subway station. The book store is down the street at the next traffic light after you come out of the subway. Track 48 Response #1: The drugstore is not far from our house, so you can walk there. First, go up River Road 8 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:30

9 and turn left onto Windy Lane. Walk two blocks and turn left onto Hanover Drive. The drugstore will be right in front of you. Response #2: To get downtown from my house, you have to take bus number seven. The bus stop is two blocks down Oak Street. You will have to change two times, though. First, you change to bus number ten by the city hospital. When you get to Hanover Street, stop at the post office. Bus number 15 will pick you up from that bus stop and take you downtown. Response #3: You ll have to drive to find the nearest dentist. From your home, you should drive to the intersection of Grant and Speedway and make a left onto Speedway. Then, pass the city zoo and turn right onto Wild Eagle Drive. Once you are there, you can t miss the dentist s building. Track 49 Health a. Speaker #1: One thing I learned in physical education class was how to play volleyball. I really like playing volleyball, so I m glad I learned it. I think it s fun to play volleyball at the beach. b. Speaker #2: The only over-the-counter medication that I use is aspirin. Sometimes I take that if I have a headache or sore muscles. I might also take aspirin if I have a fever. c. Speaker #3: I never go to the gym. It s too expensive. If I want to exercise, I just play basketball with my friends. Sometimes I also go jogging around the park for exercise. Track 51 Response #1: Healthy eating habits include eating lots of vegetables and fruit, drinking water, and eating frequently in small amounts. Eating vegetables and fruit is important because they help the body grow. I think my eating habits are not as good as I would like them to be. Sometimes I eat unhealthy microwave snacks because they are fast and easy. Response #2: My definition of being healthy is being physically and mentally fit. To be physically fit means to be the correct weight, not too skinny or overweight. To be mentally healthy means to have a clear mind and to be happy. Response #3: Yes, it is important to have health education classes in school because children get a chance to learn about the human body, its growth, and its functions. Sometimes, parents do not have time or do not know how to explain some things about health and the human body to their children. health education classes, however, can teach children these things in a safe environment. Track 52 The Internet a. Speaker #1: People like to use the Internet because it helps them do things faster. For example, if you have to find some information, you can find it really fast online. You can also shop faster by comparing prices at different stores. Of course, you can also use to send messages to people really fast. b. Speaker #2: If you spend too much time online, you can hurt your body. Your fingers and wrists can start having problems due to too much typing. You can also have back problems. Most people sit in a bad position when they use a computer. c. Speaker #3: Yes, I think schools should allow students to use the Internet. In modern times, it is important for kids to learn how to use the Internet. They need to know how to find websites and use . Schools can also teach them how to use the Internet wisely. 9 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:31

10 Track 54 Response #1: I don t think that online education is of equal quality to education received in a regular classroom. I consider online education impersonal and uninvolved. I think students get more chances to deepen what they learn through talking with peers when they are in a classroom. Classrooms also provide competition to encourage students to try harder. Response #2: No, I don t think that the government should control the Internet. The Internet is merely the sharing of ideas. The government has no right to control which ideas we can share and which ideas we cannot. The government cannot limit what we say on the telephone, so it should not limit what we can type. We should be allowed to access whatever we want on the Internet. Response #3: There are many drawbacks to Internet use in education. However, I think the main drawback is people s inability to distinguish reliable, trustworthy information. If teachers do not teach students about proper Internet use, students might read something that is untrue. In addition, the Internet provides all sorts of distractions that can make it difficult for students to focus on their studies. some of my neighbors in math. I usually did that once or twice a week. c. Speaker #3: One of my relatives works for an oil company. For his job, he has to take a boat out in the ocean and live at the place where they are drilling for oil. He has to stay there for weeks or months at a time! I don t think that would be an easy job, but it seems pretty interesting to me. Track 57 Response #1: I think satisfaction, friendly people, and promotion opportunities are important in a job. It also needs to give you some sort of mental challenge. If that is not there, you will quickly become bored with the job. Response #2: There are some advantages to being self-employed. If you are self-employed, you are your own boss. You can decide when you are going to take a vacation. More importantly, all the money that the company makes goes into your pocket. Response #3: There are various strategies you need to keep in mind if you want to be successful at a job interview. First, do your homework. Research as much as you can about the company and the position you are interviewing for. It is also important to wear presentable clothing that is appropriate for the position. Track 55 Jobs and Occupations a. Speaker #1: I would never want to be a doctor. Doctors have to work with sick people, and they have to see blood and gross things. Maybe they make a lot of money, but I don t care. I would never want to have a job like that! b. Speaker #2: I have not had a real job in a company or anything. I have done some tutoring. I guess that counts as a job. When I was in high school, I tutored Track 58 Literature and Books a. Speaker #1: I rarely read for fun. I don t have much free time to read for pleasure. I have too much reading to do for my classes. If I have free time, I d rather watch TV or play video games. I don t want to read unless I have to. b. Speaker #2: Yes, I have. One book that I read and that was also made into a movie is Jaws. The 10 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:31

11 book came out first. Then, the story was made into a famous movie. I think the director did a good job when he changed that story into a movie. c. Speaker #3: It is important to read classical literature because people expect you to know about those stories. If you are talking to someone and they find out you don t know some classical work, they might assume you didn t do well in school. Or they might think you didn t even finish school! Track 60 Response #1: My favorite library is my city s main library, which is located close to my house. I typically go there about once a month. I normally check out books, but I can also check out magazines and DVDs as well. Response #2: My favorite book is the travel book series Lonely Planet. I love these books because they give me great information. They have beautiful pictures as well as really important tips about getting around. They also have really handy maps that help me to know where I am going. Response #3: My favorite writer is Dan Brown. He wrote The da Vinci Code as well as other books. He is able to combine suspense and a great story with historical evidence. When I start reading one of Dan Brown s books, I cannot put it down until I have finished it. He s a great author. 11 JSU 1_Tran AK.indd :28:32